Jaune and Courage the Cowardly Dog
Chap 69: Cowboy Courage
"The fate of dusty little town rested on the shoulders of its new sheriffs." Muriel said reading a story to me and Courage. We were in the living room sitting on the couch with Courage on my lap. Muriel was in her chair reading us a book while Eustace was in his chair looking over the monthly bills.
"This is nice." I said as I lightly scratched Courage on his back.
'It sure is.' He agreed through yawn. He then turned to look at me directly. 'Did your old 'family' ever do anything like this?'
"No. Well, technically yes. They did read stories when the children were extremely young. And I'm talking like one or two years old. But it was to try and inspire them to be as 'great' as them or face the consequences like I did." I answered.
"TWELVE BUCKS FOR ELECRRICITY!? ROBBERY!" Eustace shouted in anger catching our attention. Turning to him, we saw that he was ready to tear the bills to pieces. We just rolled our eyes as the bills could only be one cent in cost yet he would still complain that they were robbing him blind. Letting out a yawn, we turned back to Muriel as she continued to read the story.
"The new lawmen had no idea how much trouble would come with their shiny new badges. For an ill wind was blowing in from the west that day." She continued.
"They ain't getting my money. Robbery. That's what this is. I'm taking my money to me grave. I ain't getting swindled." Eustace shouted getting our attention again along with Muriel's. He then stood up before making his way over to the furnace where he opened it before tossing the bills into the fire. Courage and I looked at each for a moment before letting out another yawn as we turned back to Muriel who went back to reading the book.
"And Dusty Little Town was about to learn all about fear and courage." Muriel read. But as she said this, we let out another yawn as sleep finally took us.
Dream Outside Dusty Little Town
'So, this is Dusty Little Town.' I thought as me and my partner rode into town on our horses.
Which for some reason were just sticks with little blocks of wood shaped to look like the heads of horses. Looking around, we saw that the town was set up like any other town we've been through. There was a bank, market, saloon and mayor's office along with some others houses. Hearing a popping sound, I turned to my partner and saw that he tried to blow a bubble with the gum he constantly chews. But, like usual, it blew up in his face. Leaving it covered entirely in green gum.
"I got you Courage." I said as I reached over and pulled off all the gum that was stuck to his face.
'Thanks.' He said smiling. But our attention was drawn when we heard the sounds of footsteps. Looking up, we saw three people heading towards us. One was a giant pig while the others were humans. One of the humans was an old looking man while the other looked like a person who would throw you under the bus when he gets the chance.
"Welcome strangers. Seeing as how you both are the newest citizen of this here city. And you both shown great bravery by... um... by... What they do Floyd?" The man in the suit asked the old man who seemed nervous about something.
"Showed up." He answered.
"Oh, yeah. Seeing as how you both showed great bravery by showing up. I hereby name you both sheriffs of Dusty Little Town." The man said as he gave me and Courage a metal gold star.
'Mm-hmm.' Courage said happy about the badge.
"Um. Thanks." I said as I was not sure how to feel about this. On one hand, it felt nice to be recognized. But on the other hand, this felt suspicious as hell.
"I know this is kind of sudden. But I can tell your both prime sheriffin' material." The man said trying his best to act like there was nothing to worry about.
'Huh?' Courage asked confused.
"Yep. Wouldn't you say so Swiney?" The man asked turning to the pig-man next to him.
"Yep." He answered, but the way he said it instantly told me that he was trying to hold in his laughter. And that he was lying.
"See. Grade "A" lawmen. That's both of you. Loved by the grateful people of this town. And fear by your enemies." The man in the suit told us.
'Ooh.' Courage whined.
"Not that you have any enemies. They don't have any enemies, do they Floyd?" He asked.
"Nope." He answered with a shake of his head.
"Well, good luck. I mean, good to have you both." The man said before leaving. And as they left, they didn't even bother to try and hide their snickering.
"I don't trust this. What do you think?" I asked Courage. Only to hear a popping sound again.
'Me neither.' He answered. Struggled a bit as the gum covered his face again. 'Least we got a badge.'
"True." I said as I helped him removed the gum from his face again. "There, now how about we head to the saloon to get a drink?"
He nodded in agreement. Turning, we rode our horses to the other side of the town where the saloon was. Getting there, we got off our horses and tied them up nearby. Once they were tied up, we went over to the swinging doors. However, instead of just pushing them open, Courage decided to kick them open. He took a step forward and was about to enter but was sent flying back when the doors swung back and sent him flying away.
"Just a push Courage." I said as I pushed open one door and held it open for him.
'Thanks.' He said rolling his eyes while rubbing the spot on his back where a horse kicked him.
And conveniently left the horse shoe on him. Quickly grabbing it, I pulled it off him before tossing it out the saloon. Where a cow picked it up and mooed happily. Shaking my head, I gave a light jog to catch up to Courage. But as we made our way to the bar, all the patrons of the saloon started whispering about us.
"Uh-uh. It's the new sheriffs." One man said.
"They're goners." Another one said.
"They sure are." Another one agreed.
"Trouble's coming cowboys." Another one warned.
"Better call the undertaker." A different one mocked.
"Another set of sheriffs bite the dust." The last one said with a smirk.
'Yeah, not foreboding at all.' I thought as we reached the bar.
"Let me have two root beers for my new friends here. They'll be needing it." A giant mouse person said as he placed some money on the counter.
"Two root beers coming right up." One of the two ladies working behind the bar said.
"Thanks." Courage and I said as we sat on the bar stool.
"No problem." He said as he raised his own root beer.
"What do you we'll be needing it?" I asked.
"You and your pal here are the twenty second and twenty third sheriffs here in Dusty Little Town." He began before drinking his own root beer in one gulp before letting out a big burp. "This year."
'Hmm?' Courage asked confused.
"They've all well, disappeared." He explained.
"Why did they disappear?" I asked.
"Because of the rumors." He answered.
"What rumors?" I asked. My curiosity piqued. Yet, my mind was telling me that it was not going to be good.
"The rumors that the whip is coming back." He answered. And once he said this, the room became so quiet that you could hear a pin drop. Looking around, I saw that all the other patrons froze in fear before fleeing out the door. "But neither of you believe in rumors?"
'No.' Courage answered scared while shaking his head.
"Well, see ya." The mouse guy said while tipping his hat before fleeing for Albany. Well, I guess as that was on his suitcase.
"This can't be good." I said worried.
'Yeah.' Courage agreed also scared.
"Two root beers." The other lady behind the counter said as she turned around and handed us our drinks. Revealing to us a sweet looking lady.
'AAHHH!' Courage sighed in relief after finishing his root beer in one go. Only to let out a burp as well right after.
"Slow down Courage. We don't got to be anywhere soon." I reminded him as a I took a sip of my drink.
"Hi cowboys. My name is Minnie. And this is my apprentice Iris." The lady introduced herself before motioning to the other lady.
"Hi. I'm Iris. Nice to meet you." She said smiling. And I could not help but blush as she was quite beautiful with her black skin and orange hair along with her piercing blue eyes that I could get lost in.
"Aye. Your both brave ones, you both are. Coming into town like this. Ready to serve and protect." Minnie said snapping me back to attention.
"Neither of you really have nothing to worry about. The whip is gone. To the big round up in the sky. Buried up on boot hill." Iris continued as she started to clean Courage's glass while Minnie started cleaning the counter.
"His partners and him. They pulled a bank job. But the partners double crossed him. Set him up. Whip's been gone a year now. A year today." Minnie continued.
"That's good." I said as Courage sighed in relief.
"This is him. And his last words were..." Iris picked up while showing us a photo of the Whip.
'I'll be back in a year at sundown to get my money from those who swindled me. And ain't no lawmen going to stop me.' The photo of the Whip declared. Despite being a photo.
'AAHHH!' Courage screamed before fainting and falling to the floor.
"What's the matter? You look like you seen a ghost?" Minnie asked Courage whose fur was standing up on end as if he really did see a ghost.
'We might be seeing one considering its almost sundown.' I thought as I started drinking my root beer heavily to try and calm myself down.
"Are you okay?" Iris asked as grabbed my hand and lowered it.
"Fine. Just a bit nervous at being the new sheriff." I lied which I didn't like.
"It's perfectly understandable. How about we play some music to calm down and have some fun?" She suggested.
"That sounds like a marvelous idea." Minnie agreed.
"Sure. You have any instruments?" I asked as Courage woke up and got back on the bar stool.
"Of course. We got a piano and violin in the back." Minnie answered.
"That'll work." I said as we got off the bar stools and headed to the back. Courage chose to play the piano while I picked up the violin.
'One, two, three.' Courage said before beginning to play the piano while played the violin.
"Ha, ha, ha." Minnie started laughing as she and Iris began to dance.
We continued to play like this and have a grand all time for the next few hours. Though it was a bit tough for me to concentrate and play the violin. Reason being that I was struggling to not just admire Iris who looked like an actual goddess that came down to this here place. Though, Courage's teasing did help me focus a bit and avoid looking like a fool. And I am secretly glad that I was the only one able to understand him and what he is saying. But our fun was interrupted when the sounds of violent whipping greeted our ears.
"HEH! HEH! HEH!" A loud voice cackled. Sending shivers down our spines.
"We better check this out." I said as I placed the violin on the ground before standing up.
'Do we have to?' Courage asked as we walked out of the saloon. Looking around, we saw nothing that seemed strange. That is, until we saw Swiney from earlier crawling towards us. But what really caught our attention was the fact that his clothes were torn as if he was whipped. Not to mention, someone or something made a 'w' on the front of his clothes.
"GET OUT OF TOWN! WHILE YOU STILL CAN! NOW! NOW! NOW!" He shouted towards us.
"What happened?" I asked him. But all we got was a panicked expression from him. As if trying to remember what happened to him was dreadful.
"UGH! GET OUT OF TOWN WHILE YOU STILL CAN! NOW! NOW!" He shouted before crawling out of town towards the sunset.
"Who could have done something like that to him?" Iris asked. As soon as she asked this, more whipping sounds were heard.
"I say whoever is making those whipping sounds." I answered.
"HEH! HEH! HEH!" Another horrifying laughter sounded nearby.
"That sounded like it was coming from this way." Iris said before running to the side of the saloon. Worried and concerned, we followed and saw Floyd hanging upside down and in a similar condition to Swiney.
"Oh, my." Minnie gasped.
"We got you." I said as Courage and I unhooked him before setting him down on the ground.
"Who did this to you?" Iris asked.
"Ohh... The... Wh..." Floyd struggled to get out.
"The walrus?" Minnie guessed.
"The wh..." Floyd tried saying again but couldn't as he was shaking too much.
"The whale?" Iris guessed.
"Wh..." He tried again but we could barely understand him as he was shaking so much due to him being scared from whatever attacked,
"The wintergreen mint." Minnie said smiling thinking she figured it out.
"What?" Courage and I asked confused.
"The wh... THE WHIP!" Floyd shouted getting our attention. And making us cover our ears from how loud he shouted. "THE WHIPE! RUN FOR YOUR LIVES!"
'Looks like the mouse guy was right. The whip is back.' I thought as Floyd ran off into the distance. But a thought suddenly occurred to me. "Wait. Minnie. Do you know who the Whip's partners are?"
"Why, yes. They are Swiney, Floyd and... Oh my." She answered before gasping when we realized who the last one was. Hearing some whipping sounds, we immediately rushed to where they were coming from. Seeing that they were coming from the mayor's office, we looked through the window and saw the mayor on his knees conversing with some stranger in dark clothing that had green skin and a whip. It was obvious that this was the guy who traumatized the others.
"I swear it wasn't me." The mayor tried to lie. "It was the barber and the butcher. It was their idea."
"It's him. It's the whip." Minnie gasped in horror.
"He's come back!" Iris gasped as well.
'Oh, no.' Courage said in fear before trying to ride away on his horse.
"We've got to help that man." Minnie said as she grabbed his hand.
'I know I'm not going to like this.' Courage said as he got off his horse and came back to the window where we continued to watch the confrontation where the Whip just used his whip to take off part of the mayor's mustache.
"You're a lowdown double-stealing no-good crook of a crook." The whip said bitterly as he raised his whip and struck the mayor again. "YOU SET ME UP! ADMIT IT!"
"OK. OK. I admit." The mayor said now mustachless.
'Not for me.' Courage said as he tried to leave again but I stopped him.
"Courage. Buddy. I know this looks dangerous. But we can get through this. Just like we gotten through all the other dangers in our lives. As long as we are together, we can get though anything." I reminded him. Hearing this, he calmed down a bit before nodding.
'Your right.' He said smiling. Nodding, we turned back to watch the confrontation between the mayor and the Whip.
"I DON'T KNOW WHERE THE LOOT IS!" The mayor, who is now bald, shouted.
"UHHH!" The Whip grunted before whipping the mayor again. This time causing his clothes to fall off and leave him in his pajamas.
"I DON'T KNOW!" He tried again. But it was clear that he was lying. And the Whip knew this as well as he used his whip this time to steal the mayor's teeth.
"HA, HA, HA." The Whip laughed as he held the mayor's chattering teeth,
"Ok, ok. It's in the safe behind the picture. The picture of-" The maybe gave in while pointing to the picture of Minnie that was behind him.
"Why that's Minnie! Minnie's my girl." The Whip exclaimed before biting the handle of his whip in frustration.
"You wink at a guy and right away he thinks you belong to him." Minnie explained.
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING WITH A PICTURE OF ME MINNIE ON YOUR WALL!?" The Whip demanded.
"Oh, that's who that is. The picture just came with the wallet I brought." The mayor answered. Though it was a bit hard to understand him as he had no teeth.
"No good girls stealing double crosser." The Whip said before using his whip to knock the painting off the wall revealing the safe. He then opened the safe and retrieved the money that was in there with his whip. Pocketing the money, the Whip then decided to leave his mark by leaving his signature whipped marked on the mayors clothing.
'We better get out of here.' I thought as we knew the fight was over and the Whip was about to leave. Unfortunately, Courage was chewing some gum and blew a bubble with it. Which popped so loudly that it caught the attention of the Whip.
"What's that?" The Whip asked turning to see us.
'Oh, no.' I thought worried.
"Now one of those lawmen is stealing my girl!" The Whip said enraged at what he thought was going on.
"That's not what happening." I told him as he stepped out of the mayor's office.
"STUPID LAWMEN!" He shouted before whipping us.
"HA, HA, HA!" Courage and I laughed as the Whip destroyed my clothes, except my underwear, and left Courage without fur. Embarrassed and red faced, we left the area to around the mayor's office. Once we were sure no one was watching us, Courage grabbed a bag out from under hit hat. Taking it, I pulled out some of my spare clothes and emergency fur for Courage. You honestly would not believe how often this happens so we made sure to bring some spare clothes wherever we go.
"Better." We said once we were done. But as soon as we said that, we heard Minnie and Iris scream in terror.
"HELP! SHERIFFS!" They screamed in terror.
'What do we do? What do we do?' Courage asked panicking.
"Wait. I just remembered. The general from nearby still owes us a favor for what we did." I said getting Courage's attention.
'Right. He could help. Let's go.' He said with a snap of his finger.
Ten Minutes Later
"Hello Whip." I said as the Whip approached me.
"What do you want?" He demanded.
"Just to give you this." I answered while handing him a telegram.
"Huh?" He said confused as he opened the telegram and read what it said. "Put Minnie and Iris down or else. Or else what?"
"Here you go." I said Courage came up to us on a scooter with a wrapped box. Taking it, I gave it to the Whip. Confused, he put Minni and Iris down to examine the box. Using his distraction, we put Minnie and Iris on the scooter.
"You both came back." Iris said clasping her hands together.
"Of course." I said as we quickly rode away from the Whip that just picked up the box.
"It's not me birthday." He said confused as he opened the box. Reaching in, he pulled out a large folded piece of paper. Unfolding it, he saw that it was a target sign. Frustrated it, he dropped it to the floor before stepping on it. Which was exactly what we wanted.
"What did you two do?" Iris asked.
"Just watch." I answered while smiling. She seemed confused for a moment before the sounds of a jet greeted our ears. Looking up, we saw a jet fly over The Whip before dropping a piano on him.
"Uh, oh." The Whip said before being crushed by the piano.
'Worked better than expected.' Courage said with a laugh.
"Thanks for the help general." I said as I handed him twenty dollars.
"Thanks for the save." Iris said before leaning in and giving me a kiss on the lips. We both blushed heavily at this while Minnie and Courage teased us a bit. Our attention was soon drawn to the large number of people rushing towards us. Reaching us, they picked all of us up and began to carry us through the town.
"Aw, sheriffs. I knew you both wouldn't let us down. You both taught us the meaning of Courage." Minnie said smiling. But as she said this, her voice started to repeat and echo a bit.
Real World
"Courage. Jaune. Courage. Jaune." Muriel gently said as she shook us awake.
"Huh?" I asked yawning.
"You both fell asleep before I could read the ending." She answered.
"Sorry." I said as Courage and I stretched a bit.
"And the two Sheriffs and their now new partners rode off into the sunset. Happily, ever after." She said while closing the book. "And that's the end of the story."
"NOT YET!" A voice called out as a whip sounded right next to us. Looking to our side, we saw that Eustace was different. "The story just starting."
"You had the same dream I did. Right?" I asked Courage as we saw Eustace, or should I call him The Whip, ride on his horse out of the house.
'Seems like it.' He answered before putting on a cowboy hat. 'Well, he we go again pardner.'
"Right by your side pardner." I said as I also put on a cowboy hat before getting up and following The Whip.
Note:
(1) Katz Kandy with Ruby and Nora. (2) Evil Weevil with Weiss and Winter. (3) Tower of Dr. Zalost with Neo, Roman, Ruby and Blake.